Alpine Arts Trail
In the Upper Kiewa Valley
About the Alpine Arts Trail
Step inside the studios of the Kiewa Valley and discover the beating heart of our creative community.
From Saturday 7 to Monday 9 June, five local artists are throwing open their studio doors and inviting you in for a rare glimpse behind the scenes. The Alpine Arts Trail Open Studios is a self-guided event where you can explore working studios, meet the artists, and see how art is made—from rough sketches to finished works.
Whether you're a lifelong art lover, a curious creative, or simply looking for something inspiring to do over the King's Birthday long weekend, this trail is for you. Each studio has its own flavour, stories, and character, and all are nestled in the beautiful surrounds of the Kiewa Valley. It’s not just about looking at art—it’s about connection, curiosity, and community.
Bring a friend, pack a thermos, take your time, and enjoy a weekend of creativity at your own pace. The trail is free, a brilliant way to support local makers doing what they love, and all are welcome.
Maps and studio details will be available online and at local outlets. Follow the signs, look for the flags, and don’t be shy - our artists are keen to chat, share, and welcome you into their world.
Alpine Arts Trail Open Studios
Saturday 7 – Monday 9 June 2025
Across the Kiewa Valley | Free Entry
Artists and Studios
Bronwyn Van de Graaff is an Australian contemporary classical realist artist, specialising in still life oil paintings, botanical plant portraits and natural history subjects in graphite and watercolour.
Her paintings are an exploration of moments of beauty, calm and harmony. Painting from life, she embraces bloom, decay, imperfections and change and believes therein lies the essence of life.
Bronwyn’s contemporary still life paintings are inspired by the richness and timelessness of the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch Golden Age and are about finding the beauty in the ordinary.
Her paintings are highly observed and detailed and have a richness of depth, colour and luminosity which is created by applying a grisaille underpainting then many thin layers of glazing. Her works take many months to complete.
1. Bronwyn Van de Graaff
19 Highland Court, Tawonga South
2. Charlie Brown
Entirely self-taught, Charlie developed his skills photographing in the visually stimulating costal town of Port Campbell, on the Great Ocean Road.
But a keen focus on skiing and winter-related activities drew Charlie to the Victorian Alps. After a skiing accident in 1990 (being photographed) he decided he’d be far better off permanently behind the lens rather than in front of it and that was the turning point, the decision was made and from there he’s gone from strength to strength.
Charlie shot the commercial photography for Falls Creek ski resort for 19 seasons and has spent several seasons in Europe shooting for various ski resorts and publications, He has photographed 2 books on wine and food in the Mornington Peninsular & Yarra Valley regions, has a strong cliental for his large canvas artistic prints and also runs fun and informative photographic workshops in the Victorian High country.
Charlie’s focus is to live a simple, healthy life and lives full time in Mt Beauty with his young daughter doing what he enjoys, photographing, mountain biking, skiing, hiking and playing music.
Rear, 167 Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga South – entry via rear laneway
3. Kate Maclurcan
Kate paints still life, landscape, birds, and semi-abstract works, and it is the latter that holds her curiosity. Kate works with oil paint, valuing the flexibility and openness of this medium.
Kate begins her process creating a smaller study, or maquette. These smaller studies can be a thumbnail sketch, a painted smaller piece, or a colour study. Kate’s practice is studio based, allowing her time to look, reflect and respond to these smaller works. A painting technique Kate uses is scumbling, this is one of her processes for mark making and notating a subject. Kate likes to push the paint around, distilling the subject, seeking a serenity and stillness to her work.
17 Baker St, Tawonga South – entry via rear laneway
4. Daniel A’Vard
Daniel is a Bright-based artist exploring how we connect with reality and the world around us. His current works – illuminated landscapes shown in lightboxes – take traditional landscape images and remix them into something both strange and beautiful. Using layers of reimagined imagery, Daniel invites viewers to pause and reflect on how we see, feel, and understand place.
These glowing works hint at memories, dreams, and the quiet pull of nature. They offer windows into landscapes that are both grounded and otherworldly. Light is central in this work, not just for what it shows, but for how it changes the way we see and feel.
Daniel’s practice investigates connection - how we connect with realities (both physical and non-physical), how we connect with each other, and how we make sense of it all. His work is a quiet invitation to wonder and dream about what what we might find when we open ourselves up to connection.
Daniel has been an integral part of the Alpine Artists Trail team, facilitating the beginnings of the project and has been invited to show his work in both Kate’s (3) and Jo’s (5) studios.
17 Baker St, Tawonga South – entry via rear laneway & 173 Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga
5. Jo Russell
Jo is an Australian Artist, living in the Victorian Alpine High Country in the Kiewa Valley who has been studying and practicing watercolour painting for 15 years.
She harnesses her inspiration from her surrounding landscapes: working both in her studio and en Plein air.
Jo’s intent is to paint daily capturing the many moods of the landscape. She loves to watch the colours dance into each other creating an explosive unpredictable connection.
Her recent watercolour study Tour to Italy in 2024 with John Orlando Birt, extended her skills in painting the unique architecture of Venice and capturing the beauty of the Italian Culture and landscapes.
Jo is building her practice in Tawonga and is excited to participate with Alpine Arts Trail open studios. She invites you to come and share her passion.
173 Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga
Trail Map
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